Foundations of Scaling FoS.

The program supports founders in the transition from startup to scaleup. It is designed for founders in C-level positions of mature startups who want to lead their companies to the next level.

Your firm should have already found product-market fit and identified a scalable business model. It should also have a track record of fast growth and more than 30 employees when you join the program in October 2025.

Dates: Oct 2025 – June 2026*
Location: Barcelona, Madrid, Munich and Live online.
Format: 9-month part-time program, with 6 residential sprints and 4 live online sprints. The program will be delivered in English.
Residential modules: 6 residential sprints of 2-3 days each, delivered on IESE’s state-of-the-art campuses in Barcelona, Madrid and Munich.
Online modules: 4 half-day online sprints focused entirely on leadership and where your entire senior leadership team can join. ​

The curriculum comprises five parallel tracks delivered throughout the program.

People

• Self-awareness and Self-leadership
• The Journey from Founder to Leader
• Building the Senior Leadership Team
• Building the People Function
• Hiring Top Talent

Strategy

• The Scaling Phenomenon
• Articulating and Implementing Purpose and Vision
• Articulating and Implementing Strategy
• Orchestrating ecosystems and creating value for all stakeholders
• Building and Managing a Board

Finance

• Funding Needs, Options and Strategies
• Negotiating Investments, Valuations and Term Sheet
• Equity Split and Co-Founder Relationships
• Entrepreneurial Finance
• Understanding Your Economic Engine

Operations

• Building an Operating System
• Designing an Organizational Structure
• Designing Systems and Processes
• Understanding Operations and the role of the COO

Markets

• Strategic Pricing
• Go-to-Market Strategies and Geographical Expansion,
• Building a Brand
• Building the Marketing & Sales Function

• +120 hours of carefully curated content, fully tailored to the needs of scaleups​.
• Highly interactive lectures, case discussions and workshops​.
• Peer Councils: Groups of six to eight founders to discuss your biggest challenges, guided by an experienced coach​.
• Variety of peer learning dynamics​.
• Ample time in class to apply frameworks and key lessons to your unique situation​.
• 360º leadership assessment (the Leadership Circle Profile)

The Foundations of Scaling program will be led by world-class academics, thought leaders and highly successful entrepreneurs with broad experience and expertise in the realm of startups and scaleups. IESE Professors Thomas Klueter and Germán Loewe lead the initiative as Academic Directors.

Germán Loewe
Academic Director, School of Founders and Senior Lecturer of Decision Sciences
PhD in Mathematical Economics, University of Barcelona
Founder of Netquest and Shalion. Investor and advisor to startups.

Program fees*

General fee: €22,500
Co-founder fee: €19,500 

*Partial scholarships for individuals and discounts special groups available.

Apply online

The program fee includes approx. 120 hours of learning and sharing in class, six facilitated Peer Councils sessions, a 360º leadership assessment (Leadership Circle Profile), academic materials and all meals. Travel and accommodation expenses are not included. Inscriptions start in January and fees are subject to change.

Our impact guarantee 

We stand by the transformative impact of the Foundations of Scaling program. The program creates value far beyond its nominal fees. By signing up for this program, you significantly increase the odds of converting your company into a large and significant business. Foundations of Scaling will put you on a higher trajectory. A single decision (and you’ll take many during your time with us) in areas like strategy, senior hires, funding, or pricing can return the program fee x-fold.

That’s why we offer the SoF Impact Guarantee: If you don’t see tanglible value by the end of Sprint 3 (Nov. 29^th), we’ll refund your investment, (minus a nominal fee for the consumed food) – no questions asked. To ensure fairness and commitment you must attend all sessions in Sprints 1 to 3, complete all assignments and actively participate in class discussions and peer council sessions.

“First mover” advantage

If you apply before June 15^th, 2025, you will benefit from a €2.000 discount on the general and the co-founder fee.

Payment terms

Payment is required in three installments:

• 15% as a commitment fee upon acceptance
• 35% by October 1st, 2025
• 50% by January 12th, 2026

Admissions

Places are limited. An Admissions Committee thoroughly reviews every application. Due to class-size constraints and the need to ensure a balanced mix of participants, it is possible that even highly qualified applicants may not be admitted.

Join with your co-founder

We recommend you join the program with your co-founders as we offer an important discount to founders from the same company.